Trough

ABSTRACT

A trough in which samples, such as core samples, are stored. The trough is open topped and shaped at its base to be generally complementary in shape and dimension to a core sample to be stored therein. A plurality of the troughs with core samples therein can be stored or transported in an improved core box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a trough for a sample such as a core sampleproduced for geological or other research purposes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Core samples produced for geological purposes are currently stored forlong periods in boxes which have for years been manufactured fromtimber, metal sheet, waxed cardboard and more recently from flutedplastics board materials. Typically the core samples are of a particulardiameter and a plurality of the core samples are stored side by side ina core box. The core samples themselves are drilled from rock or othermaterial and as they are not always stable they can over time crumbleand deteriorate. In such situations a folded sheet of fluted board hasbeen used to try and keep the separate samples apart for use in analysisat a later date if need be. Unfortunately the existing storage systemsare not entirely satisfactory.

An object of the invention is to provide a trough for holding a coresample which overcomes problems in known storage techniques at the sametime as providing a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description which is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a trough for storingsamples such as core samples, the trough being open topped and shaped atits base to be generally complementary in shape and dimension to a coresample to be stored therein.

The trough can include means for providing stability thereto when it isresting on a generally flat and horizontal surface. The stabilizingmeans can be lugs or legs incorporated in the base of the trough, thelugs or legs being positioned so that with a core sample in the troughit is stable and cannot roll over.

The cross sectional shape and dimensions of the trough are selected tobe of sufficient size to hold a full core sample even if it gets brokenup or crumbles over time.

The trough can be generally U-shaped in section and it is to beappreciated that it can be regularly curved, V-shaped or multi-facetedsuch as the shape of half an octagon or hexagon in cross section.

Preferably the trough is made stackable for example by providing steppedsections on both sides of the open top.

The trough can be an extrusion formed from a rigid plastics material orcan be manufactured, folded, pressed, extruded, vacuum formed, injectionmoulded or otherwise produced from any suitable material such as aplastics material, metal or timber veneer or plywood.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided acore box in which a plurality of the troughs as hereinbefore describedcan be stored.

The core box can be formed from a blank manufactured from a fluted boardmanufactured from a plastics material.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, which is given by way of example only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a section through an example of trough in the form of anextrusion;

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of similar troughs stacked for transportation;

FIG. 3 shows a blank for forming an example of core box according to theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of an end of the blank showing how it is folded toform an end of the core box;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the end shown in FIG. 4 being formed into theend of a core box;

FIG. 6 shows in a series of drawings the method of engaging a top of thecore box to the formed base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES

In FIG. 1 is shown an example of trough in the form of an extrusion 1which is generally U-shaped in section with an open top 2. The dimensionX is selected to suit the cross sectional dimension of a drill corebarrel from which the sample core (not shown) is removed. The height Yof the trough is selected to again suit the drill core barrel. Forexample the dimension X may be 62 mm and the height Y may be 57 mm.

The trough 1 can include means for stabilizing it on a surface. Thestabilizing means can be lugs 3 which stop the trough from rolling overwhen the trough is placed on a surface. The lugs or stabilizing meanscan be formed integrally with the trough or can be fitted thereto duringa manufacturing process. The lugs can be of a similar wall thickness asthe trough as in the accompanying drawings or can resemble strut or leglike extrusions or extensions extending on both sides of the trough to ahorizontal surface thus providing stability to the trough.

The trough can also include stepped sides at points 4, 5 on either sideof the open top 2. The stepped sides enable a plurality of similartroughs to be stacked for transportation as shown in FIG. 2.

In use a core sample is placed in the trough when the two parts of adrill core barrel are taken apart. An upper part of the barrel isremoved and a trough positioned in its place. The other part of thebarrel is removed after the trough has been inverted. The trough nowholds the sample. The trough is then carried for immediate analysis orplaced in a sample box for transportation to storage or a laboratory foranalysis.

An advantage of the invention is that if manufactured as an extrusion itcan be cut to any suitable length to suit a box in which geological rockor other samples are held for transportation and storage.

A further advantage is that the stepped open mouth of the trough issufficient to hold a sample even when the sample is broken up and/or thesample crumbles.

Another advantage is that the shape and construction selected for thetrough is such that the inherent strength of an extrusion when placed ina core box adds strength to the box. At the same time the extrusionitself is strong enough so that it can be handled separately. Thisallows a sample to be removed from a core box for sub sampling sectionsof the core for example as is required for coal analysis.

Another advantage is that the lugs constitute channels, which assistdrainage of liquid from within the sample.

Yet another advantage is that the sides of the stepped regions beingflat enable a number of troughs to nest or rest adjacent each other andto fit tightly together into a core sample box.

In FIGS. 3 to 6 is shown a core box in which a plurality of the troughsshown in FIG. 1 can be placed for long periods of time while transportedor stored.

The core box is manufactured from a fluted plastics board which isresistant to any moisture which is frequently associated with coresampling.

In FIG. 3 is shown a blank generally indicated by arrow 6 which isfolded to form the core box. The blank 6 includes a floor section 7,locking lid section 8, side wall sections 9, 10 and front and rear wallsections 11, 12. The lines between adjacent sections are creased to formfold lines and the ends of some of the sections as described below areformed as tabs used to erect and form the core box.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown the steps of erecting an end of the core box.Both ends are erected in a similar way. The sections 11, 12 which formthe front and rear walls are folded along the fold lines 13, 14respectively. The edge 15 of the section 11 forms the top of the frontedge of the core box and the fold line 13 forms the front of the frontwall and floor section 7. The fold line 14 forms the back of the floorsection and base of the rear wall of the core box. Tabs 16, 17 formed onthe ends of the sections 11, 12 are then folded inward to be along thefold lines 19 between the floor section 7 and the side wall sections 10.In this position the side wall section 10 is folded in the direction ofthe arrow 20 (FIG. 5) until the sections 10 is in juxtaposition with thetabs 16, 17. The outer portion 21 of side wall section 10 is then foldedabout line 22 so that tabs 23 slide into engagement withlocking/drainage slots 24 in the floor section 7.

In FIG. 6 is shown one end of the formed core box and this shows how thelocking lid 8 closes. The locking lid 8 includes an extension 25 (FIG.3) with tabs 26. The fold line 27 between the locking lid 8 and theextension 25 constitutes the front edge of the lid shown in FIG. 6. Thelid 8 is closed in the direction of arrow 28 (FIG. 6). The ends 29 ofthe lid 8 are folded down so that as the lid 8 closes in the directionof arrow 28 the ends 29 slide inside the box against the inside of sidewalls 9 and 10. The tabs 26 are moved into alignment with the spacebetween the tabs 16, 17 and the sections 9, 10 into which space they areengaged to lock the lid 8 in place with the extension 25 alongside thefront wall 11 of the core box.

In use the formed core box has placed therein a plurality of thetroughs. Any moisture in a core in the trough is free to escape from thecore box through the drainage slots. The plastics material from whichthe core box is manufactured results in the creation of a long lifestable storage medium for cores in the troughs.

Where in the description particular materials and or processes arementioned it is envisaged that their equivalents may be substituted asif they were set forth herein.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it isenvisaged that improvements and modifications can take place withoutdeparting from the scope of the attached claims.

1. A trough for storing samples such as core samples, the trough beingopen topped and shaped at its base to be generally complementary inshape and dimension to a core sample to be stored therein.
 2. A troughas claimed in claim 1 wherein the trough includes means for providingstability thereto when it is resting on a generally flat and horizontalsurface.
 3. A trough as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stabilizing meanscan be lugs or legs incorporated in the base of the trough, the lugs orlegs being positioned so that with a core sample in the trough it isstable and cannot roll over.
 4. A trough as claimed in claim 3 whereinthe cross sectional shape and dimensions of the trough are selected tobe of sufficient size to hold a full core sample even if it gets brokenup or crumbles over time.
 5. A trough as claimed in claim 4 wherein thetrough is generally U-shaped in section.
 6. A trough as claimed in claim5 wherein the trough is regularly curved, V-shaped or multi-faceted suchas the shape of half an octagon or hexagon in cross section.
 7. A troughas claimed in claim 6 wherein the trough is made stackable.
 8. A troughas claimed in claim 7 wherein the trough is stacked by providing steppedsections on both sides of the open top.
 9. A trough as claimed in claim6 wherein the trough is an extrusion formed from a rigid plasticsmaterial or is manufactured, folded, pressed, extruded, vacuum formed,injection moulded or otherwise produced from any suitable material suchas a plastics material, metal or timber veneer or plywood.
 10. A corebox for a plurality of the troughs as claimed in claim
 1. 11. A core boxformed from a blank manufactured from a fluted board manufactured from aplastics material.